Lenovo has fully embraced the convertible format for its Windows 8 devices, making the tablet/laptop hybrid design the basis for its IdeaPad Yoga S, ThinkPad Helix, and ThinkPad Twist portables. Now the new Miix 10 can be added to that list. First announced back in June, the convertible slate is now ready for pre-order on Lenovo's site.

The Miix 10 is a tablet first, using an Intel Atom Z2760 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage to power a 10.1-inch, 1,366x768 IPS touchscreen. In addition to some of the usual tablet specs (built-in webcam, microSD slot, Bluetooth support ), you can also switch the Miix to notebook mode, thanks to an optional case with a built-in keyboard. In that sense, it's similar to Microsoft's Surface tablets, which can make use of the company's Touch Cover and Type Cover cases with integrated keyboards. It also makes it less of a "convertible" than some of Lenovo's other devices, which include both the keyboard and screen and let you swivel the display into tablet mode.

The Miix could be a poor man's Surface Pro. It doesn't come with an Intel Core i5 processor or some of the other niceties of Microsoft's tablet, but it does run Windows 8 and is noticeably cheaper. While the Surface Pro just got a price cut for the month of August, it still starts at $799 for the 64GB version.

Sean Portnoy started his tech writing career at ZDNet nearly a decade ago. He then spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. He received a B.A. from Brown University and an M.A. from the University of Southern California.

Disclosure

Sean Portnoy is a freelance technology journalist; currently, all work that Sean does is on a contractural basis. Sean has also written corporate communications documents for CA.Sean does not accept gifts from companies he covers. All hardware products he writes about are purchased with his own funds or are review units covered under formal loan agreements and are returned after the review is complete.